Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) at Griffith University is a four-year degree that combines a full law qualification with an integrated honours component. You study the foundations of Australian law, contract, torts, criminal law, constitutional law, property, equity, administrative law and civil procedure, then go further with a research thesis or major research project in your final year. That honours year is what separates this from a standard three-year law degree. It's built into the four years, not tacked on afterwards.

How the degree is structured

Griffith runs on trimesters, so you'll take units across three study periods each year rather than the traditional two semesters. Each unit carries credit points, and you need to accumulate the required total to graduate. The honours component usually appears in the later years, once you've built the research and writing skills to handle it. You'll complete a supervised thesis or research project on a legal topic of your choosing, which means working closely with an academic supervisor over multiple trimesters.

Work-integrated learning is part of the picture. Law schools in Australia typically offer clinical placements, internships with community legal centres, law firms, government departments or courts, and mooting or negotiation competitions. Griffith's law programme includes practical legal training options and placement units that count towards your degree. If you're aiming for admission as a legal practitioner, you'll need to complete the academic requirements (the law degree) plus practical legal training (PLT) and then apply to the relevant state admissions authority. This degree covers the academic stage.

What you'll actually learn

You'll learn to read legislation closely, analyse case law, construct legal arguments, draft documents, interview clients, negotiate and appear in mock court settings. Research skills are central to the honours component, you'll design a research question, conduct a literature review, gather and analyse legal materials, and write a substantial thesis. By the end, you should be able to advise on a legal problem, identify the relevant law, apply it to facts, and communicate your reasoning clearly in writing and speech.

Who this suits

This degree suits school leavers and mature-age students who want to practise law, work in policy, or pursue further research. It's also a good fit if you're interested in a specific area like human rights, environmental law, criminal justice or commercial law and want to dig into it through a research project. The honours component helps if you're considering a master's or PhD later, or if you want to stand out in a competitive job market. Because it's four years, you'll need to be ready for a longer commitment than a standard three-year degree. English language requirements for international applicants are higher for law than for many other fields, check the Griffith website and the CRICOS register for the exact scores, tuition and intake dates.

• Solicitor or barrister (after completing practical legal training and admission)
• Legal officer in government departments or statutory authorities
• Policy adviser in state or federal public service
• In-house counsel or compliance officer in corporations
• Community legal centre solicitor or advocate
• Human rights or environmental law advocate in non-government organisations
• Legal researcher or academic (with further study)
• Industrial relations or employment relations adviser
• Migration agent or refugee law caseworker
• Business analyst or consultant in regulated industries

Australian industries that hire law graduates include legal services, government, finance, property, resources, technology, media and not-for-profits. International graduates may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, which allows you to stay and work in Australia after graduation. While studying, your visa generally permits up to 48 hours of work per fortnight. Confirm current visa conditions with the Department of Home Affairs.